Once Two's wound had been cleaned and freshly bandaged, the Seven of Cups was happy to direct him down to the workshop he'd originally been headed for. Riku had forgotten completely in helping Two, but he'd been concerned about exactly what they needed him there for. Glass-blowing didn't fit in anywhere among his existing skills.
There were only two cards in the workshop, who wore thick leather aprons instead of the nursing gowns the others wore, each spotted with burns that almost hid the symbols on it which marked them as the Nine of Cups and their very own Ace.
It was their Ace that reassured him that while they'd help him learn the trade, what the actually needed him for was to keep the furnace running hot. That in itself was hot work, but being the Cups they knew the value of keeping hydrated and took regular breaks to handle it.
Thankfully it wasn't too difficult or distracting. He could see the benefit it had on them, allowing them to work much quicker – and allowing him to see the great skill they had with the glass, not just creating various glass items for their medical use but also blowing the glass into intricate and ornate sculptures that seemed impossibly complex.
As the day drew to its close and they began to finish up, Nine asked their Ace to start to tidy up while he went to get the list of what they were to produce tomorrow. Ace then quietly showed Riku a brief introduction into their side of the glass-blowing, even guiding him in blowing a glass vial of his own. It hadn't been the best work in comparison to their own, but at least he had a new skill.
Their Page came to fetch him not long after though, escorting him back over to the gates where his horse was being held for him.
"Can I ask you something?" Riku asked her on the way over.
"But of course," she replied. "What can I do for you?"
"I've been wondering. Just what is the significance of The Hanged Man showing up?"
She looked at him shrewdly for a moment, then nodded. "The Hanged Man is both a reminder and a warning. His presence brings about a round of pacifism between the four suits, and we all find it easier to get along with each other. Surely you must have noticed yourself that today, people have been more open about things than they otherwise would have?"
Riku just nodded, not trusting himself to say anything after Two had given him his final confirmation. "And the warning?"
"The pacifism is just the calm before the storm, Ace of Staves," she said gravely. "Death will make his appearance this week before the meeting at The Tower. But understand this – you cannot show that you've learned this. The tradition your suit still keeps to says that you should only learn this from one of your own suit."
"Some of these traditions just seem pointless," Riku murmured. The Page clearly pretended not to hear, waiting for him to mount up.
"Safe journey, Ace of Staves. We appreciate the help you've given us today."
It was getting late by the time he passed back through the gates of their own castle, with Four meeting him just inside as the gates were closed again.
"I think I'm starting to share your views of horseback," Riku complained as he dismounted.
"Doesn't do wonders for the behind, does it?" Four chuckled, taking the reins to guide his horse back to the stables. "Anything interesting happen to you?"
"Not really. I met someone who'd braved the wilderness. He looked pretty worse for wear. Oh, and he told me-" Riku broke off. "Can I get you to handle my horse for me? I mean like the stuff we did before we left, but-"
"I know what you mean," Four interrupted. "But what for?"
"I've gotta go see Knight. It's kinda important."
"Don't take too long then, dinner will be ready soon."
"Thanks Four," Riku said, then headed straight for the main castle. For some reason he had a sense of urgency and found himself running to get back to Knight's room. At least this time he knew where it was.
"Knight, are you in?" Riku asked, knocking on his door.
"Just a moment," Knight's voice came back. The signature clanking of his armour carried through the door, then it opened. "Ace. Can this wait? I'm just about to have something to eat."
"If I have to wait so do you," Riku told him jokingly, then more seriously he added, "I got your confirmation."
"Confirmation?"
"That the other suits were cheating. All three of them."
Knight regarded him for a long moment before he said anything, and when he did it was in a serious tone. "I won't ask you to name any names. But I need you to be absolutely certain about this."
"I am certain, Knight. We're the only suit that isn't educating their cards about the game at the end of the week. Come on Knight – do you really think I'd come back to you about this if I wasn't?"
"No, I guess you wouldn't at that. This remains a very serious matter however, and it must be handled delicately. I want you to say nothing of this to anyone else, Ace. Tomorrow, wait in the hall downstairs when Page gives out the jobs. I'll talk with him so he knows in advance."
"Why? What will happen?"
"You and I will present this to their Majesties, with Page present," Knight answered. "And it'll be up to me to enforce their decision... no matter what it is. I won't keep you in the dark here Ace – you may end up disqualified because of your actions, even if we do turn aside that tradition."
"At least I'll know I've done the right thing," Riku told him. "Thanks for the warning at least. I think I'd better get down to dinner before I miss out."
"Ace!" Knight called to him as he hurried back. "Remember! Not a word to anyone!"
Riku nodded, then continued back down. He wasn't surprised to find he was the last to come to the table.
"Hey, Ace," Eight said to him after he'd sat down. "I heard you're the one who found the Arcana card today. Did you find out which one?"
"The Hanged Man," Riku replied then remembering the warning the Page of Cups had given him, "Except no one seems to know what it means."
"Means we get along better, but Death will show up," Two said beside him.
"At least this time we've got some warning," Five said. "Last time everything was rushed because no one told us."
"Rushed?" Nine objected, wincing slightly as he adjusted the sling for his still injured arm. "There's barely anything that actually needs doing! The Cups set up their triage in the hall, the Swords commandeer here to keep us fed, and the Pentacles reinforce the defences. All we have to do is man the walls."
"Target practice," Seven murmured. "And bolts."
"I must be getting used to you," Riku laughed. "I think I even understood that one. Don't the other suits help on the walls?"
"Chance would be a fine thing," Four answered. "The Cups have this oath not to harm. They only overlook that if they're defending their castle from one of the other suits, and even then they try and get us to do their fighting for them. The Pentacles maintain that they're needed on the siege engines they build. Horrible things some of them, but brutally effective."
"And the Swords?"
"Sit in the kitchen keeping us fed," Three finished. "You don't think this feeds itself do you?" he joked, patting his vast belly.
"You ought to go on a diet," Eight told him critically, starting a loud argument that was still going when Riku finished his meal and excused himself early, heading for bed early. He wasn't surprised to find Four followed him.
"Did you talk to Knight?" he asked quietly.
"Yeah. I got told not to talk about it though."
"Judgement isn't here, Riku," Four told him. "And I know how to keep a secret around here."
"Just what secrets are you suggesting to keep?" Riku replied with a sly glance.
"Depends what ones you want me to keep," he answered similarly.
"I was right, you're terrible. Anyway... I got the confirmation Knight wanted."
"What did he say about it?"
"He's going to have me put it past Page, Deti and the Queen tomorrow, and he warned I might still get disqualified for it no matter what happened."
"At least you're warned," Four noted, opening the door to the communal bedroom. "Was that all?"
"Pretty much, yeah. I got the last bit I needed from the Two of Cups."
"Him? Isn't he the delusional dude who tried to leave through the wilderness?"
"Keep it to yourself, but he's not as delusional as he looks," Riku told him, staving off a yawn and stashing his staff away. "Wish it wasn't so cold in here sometimes," he added absently.
"I know a cure for that," Four grinned. "If you don't mind there being... certain talk."
"I think I can bear that," he answered.
"Time to get up, sleepyhead," Four murmured in his ear.
"Can't I have a few more minutes? I like it here."
"I wonder why. It couldn't be that your bed has become strangely more comfy, could it?"
"Well that's your fault, isn't it? It was your idea."
"You didn't have to let me. Besides, the others will be up soon."
"Oh, alright then. I'm getting up already."
Four chuckled to himself, waited for Riku to get up, then rolled out the other side after him. Riku chanced a quick glance to the other cards behind him. Only Eight appeared to be awake, grinning broadly at him.
"It was cold last night, that was all," Four told her as he picked out what he needed for a shower.
"I'll bet it wasn't after you two got into bed together," she replied, trying not to laugh. She put Riku in mind of the Cheshire Cat with her grinning.
"Why Eight," Four said in mock surprise. "You don't think Ace and I would do anything of the sort, do you?"
Eight stuffed a corner of a pillow into her mouth so she wouldn't wake anyone up.
"What are you talking about?" Six yawned. "Doing what?" She looked from Four to Eight, then followed Eight's look toward Riku.
"Was there something?" Riku asked pleasantly, concealing a grin of his own.
"Oh, you have got to be kidding me," Six muttered. "That was what you were doing?"
"If by 'that' you mean sharing the bed because it was cold, then yes," Four answered before heading into the showers.
Eight managed to get hold of herself long enough to lean over to look at Six and said, "Bet you anything that isn't all they did."
"What is all this talking about?" Ten complained, pushing himself up on his elbows and peering around blearily. "And all who did with who?"
"Oh, nothing," Riku said offhandedly. "Just Four and I kept each other warm last night."
Ten stared at him for a few moments, then let himself fall back onto the bed saying, "Oh, god. Not again."
Six and Eight exchanged amused looks then burst out laughing. Riku chuckled to himself, then headed into the showers himself.
"I did warn you there'd be talk," Four told him.
"I know. It's not as bad as I thought it'd be. It's actually kind of fun, seeing their reactions. Especially Ten's."
"You know, if you ever did want to..." Four left it hanging.
"We'll see," Riku replied. "Give it time. I've got plenty of that, at least."
"All the time in the world," Four agreed.
